Elevator unit for conveyers



p 1942- E. D. DAHLMAN 2,296,810

ELEVATOR UNIT FOR CONVEYERS Filed May 10, 1941 3/ KALXW Lia/army machine or similar machine. comprise a plurality of links having straight 'in- "termediate portions which extend from each side 'of the conveyer in parallel relation. "Said links have their ends bent to form loops so'that they Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UN! TE D STATES OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveyer and par-r ticularly to an elevator unit for a conveyer.

"VVhilethe invention is applicable to various types of conveyers'it specifically is designed to be used. on the chain conveyer of a potato pickin Such 'conveyers can 'be'interengaged to form a continuous openwork'conveyer of the chain type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an elevator unit in connection with such a conveyer,

which unit is extremely simple and which can be "easily and inexpensively produced.

It is a further object of the invention'to provide an elevator 'unit'for a link of a conveyer comprising a fiat bar extending transversely of said conveyer and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof, which bar is provided with means to prevent bruising of the potatoes or other materials handled.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide an elevator unit comprising a flat upstanding bar having a facing of yielding material at its front side which preferably extends above the top of said bar, said bar being oscillatably mounted on th intermediate portion of a link and having means extending to and engaging the top of the next adjacent link.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the elevator unit and link supporting the same;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the elevator unit showing a plurality of links of the conveyer;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrow.

Referring to the drawing a portion of a chain or link conveyer such as now commonly used on potato harvesting and other harvesting machinery is shown. This conveyer comprises a plurality of links I l] each having a rectilinear intermediate portion lea of rod-like or substantially cylindrical form. Each link has its ends bent rearwardly and then upwardly and forwardly to form a loop I0b. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the portions Illa can be disposed in the loops Hid so that the links are interengaged .and..form a flexible conveyer having :theparallel portions Ilia extending from sideto .side thereof. It is desirable to have elevator units in connection with the conveyerto assistin'carryin'g.the potatoes or other articles upward thereon.

In accordance with the presentinvention this elevator unit comprisesa'fiat-barll having rigidly secured to its rear side clip members I2.

-Clip members I2 arepreferably'formedofsimple strips of metal substantiallyrectangular .in

transverse cross. section. These members I2 have theirfront ends bent downwardly to form semic'ylindrical loops 12a through which the intermediate portion Ifla of the link I0 extends.

lMernbers I2 are'thus oscillatable on said portions Ita. While members I2 might be variously secured, in practice it has been found to' be very easy and suitable to spot-weld members I2 to bar II and the members I2 are illustrated as so connected to bar II. Members I2 have portions I2b extending rearwardly from the top of loops I2a a sufficient distance to overlie the intermediate portion Iiia of the next adjacent link. Bar II extends upwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the conveyer and a layer of yielding material I3 is secured to the front face of said bar II. While various materials might be used, in practice it has been found suitable and convenient to use a layer of rubber and member I3 is so illustrated. Member I3 is illustrated as secured to the strip I3 by the rivets I4 having their heads at the front sides thereof countersunk into or embedded in layer I3.

In operation the unit comprising bar II and attached parts will move with the conveyer and with the conveyer link on which it is mounted. The potatoes or other material engaging the front side of layer [3 will tend to hold the same in vertical position or to swing the top thereof rearwardly. The bar II and layer l3 will be held in substantially vertical position by the engagement of portions I2b with the next link. However, the unit comprising bar II and attached parts may oscillate about the link as the conveyer passes around the sprocket or supporting members. The potatoes or other articles will be preventedfrom rolling downwardly on the conveyer and will be carried upwardly or with the conveyer by the unit. The layer I3 of yielding material will prevent bruising of the potatoes or other articles and it will be noted that layer I3 extends above'the upper edge of bar II. Any potatoes falling or dropping onto the conveyer will engage the upper edge of layer I3 and will thus be prevented from engaging the hard upper edge of bar II. The potatoes will thus be prevented from being bruised.

From the above description it is seen that I have provided a very simple and efficient elevator unit for a conveyer of the type disclosed. The unit can be easily and quickly made from easily procured material.

The elevator unit is quite rugged and will thus be very durable. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice found to be very successful and efficient and is being commercially made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the par-ts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator unit for the conveyer chain of a potato picker, said chain being constructed and arranged to support potatoes upon its upper run and being composed of similar spaced links each having an intermediate straight rod-like portion, spaced clips having their ends bent into loops through which said portion of one of said links extends and in which it is revoluble, said clips extending rearwardly from said loops substantially in the plane of said conveyer to overlie the intermediate portion of the next adjacent link, a fiat bar spot-welded to said loops adjacent the front ends thereof and disposed to extend upwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said conveyer and substantially throughout the width thereof and a layer of rubber-like material secured to the front face of said flat bar and extending slightly above the upper edge thereof.

2. An elevator unit for a conveyer chain of a potato picker, said chain being constructed and. arranged to support potatoes upon its upper run and being formed of similar equally spaced links each having an intermediate rectilinear rod-like portion, a pair of spaced members having portions through which said portion extends and in which it is o-scillatable, said members extending rearwardly from said portion to overlie the intermediate portion of the next adjacent link, a flat bar rigidly secured to the front side of said members and extending upwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said conveyer and a layer of yielding material overlying the front side of said flat bar and extending a short distance above the upper edge thereof.

3. The combination with a conveyer chain of a potato picker, said chain being composed of equally spaced links each having a transversely extending intermediate rod-like portion and being arranged to support and carry potatoes on the upper run thereof, of a member having spaced clips with portions extending downwardly and around one of said intermediate portions so as to be swingable thereon, said clips havin portions extending rearwardly substantially parallel to the plane of said conveyer to overlie and engage the adjacent link in the rear thereof, said member having a plate-like portion carried by said clips extending substantially vertically to the plane of said conveyer and throughout substantially the whole width thereof and a facing of yielding material on the front of said plate-like portion for engaging said potatoes.

EBEN D. DAHLMAN, 

